Welcome to “The Beat”, your go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every month or so and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

FEEDBACK:

And no, not like when we grab the mic on the new sound system. We need and want yours. Take our survey and tell us all the things you love and think we could improve on at Just Dance Roanoke, and you could be eligible to win an Apple Watch! Yes. This is real.

Anyone who fills out the survey is entered to win.

Give us a testimonial and allow us to include your name, 2 chances! Eeeek!

Take Burn or Sweat? Fill out that section and allow us to use your name, win 3 chances! Oh yeah!

Wow! Our members sure know how to rock a challenge! Keep up your hard work (or should I say ‘hard twerk’) through the holidays and you’re already a step ahead of your New Years’ resolutions! Take a look below to see where you fell in the race. Congratulations to all of our winners!

Meet Lisa Lally! Lisa has been a loyal JDR member since the studio opened and now she has a goal to run a half-marathon in all 50 states (I mean, how cool is that?!) We are so lucky to have Lisa as part of our JDR community and wish her the best in pursuit of her goal!

How long have you been taking classes at JDR? How did you first hear about us?

I met Sara in 2010 when we both were doing CrossFit. I knew about her dance classes then, but never took one until JDR opened. Now, I’m hooked. I have been taking classes, usually as a drop in or on a pass ever since. The instructors and community are the best!

How have Just Dance classes impacted your training?

JDR has helped me a lot with cardiovascular endurance, especially the Mega Mix. Half Marathons definitely take me longer than 1 hour 30 minutes, but its a great way to get my heart rate up for a long period of time. Dancing also breaks up the monotony of training. I like to run, but I also like variety.

What states have you checked off your list? Do you have any others planned?

I’ve done fifteen states so far: Maine, Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Texas. I have two more planned this year and another four so far for 2017. My next race is the Richmond half this weekend! I try to make them little “run-cations”. I can’t wait until I do Hawaii (not sure when yet). Running is a great way to see a particular city or town. There are actually trips you can plan where you can do a different state on consecutive days, but I’m definitely a one at a time athlete.

What has been your favorite half-marathon so far?

My favorite half, hands down, is Richmond. The tagline for the event is “America’s Friendliest Marathon”. They’re right. The crowd support is amazing. The course is beautiful. It is also where I’ve run the best. I will run the Richmond Half for the third time on November 12th. If you’re thinking about running a half for the first time, Richmond would be a great one.

What’s your favorite song to twerk to in class?

I can’t pick just one. My current favorites are: Freedom, In the Summertime, Where the Party At?, America’s Sweetheart, Let Me Be Your Lover and The Water Dance.

Any JDR songs on your running playlist?

I actually have a whole playlist of JDR songs. There are over 100 songs on it and I know that doesn’t include all the JDR songs I have in my library. I like to listen to them when I run and think about the movements. It really helps take my mind off of running, especially when I get to miles 8-13.

What have you learned from JDR and your half-marathon experiences?

I’ve learned that doesn’t matter that I’m not the best runner or even the okay-est dancer. Finishing a race or dance class brings me so much joy and empowerment. I can’t get hung up on what ifs or the fear that I won’t do well in whatever I do. I just have to put myself out there and do my best. As the En Vogue song says, “Free your mind and the rest will follow.”

INTERVIEWED BY MORGAN JESSEE, JUST DANCE ROANOKE MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTOR

Welcome to “The Beat”, your go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every few weeks and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

BACK TO TWERK: September 6-October 9th

This week we kicked off the “Back to Twerk” challenge! This is a great way to help hold yourself accountable during the start of a stressful time of year, Back to School.

The more you dance, the better chance you have to win prizes and SAVE on your next class pass.

Fall Schedule Changes

It’s back to school and back to work not only for the kiddos, but also for the JDR Instructor family. This means changes in our schedule.

Be sure to check out our new class: Just Dance: The Breakdown. Amanda will be breaking down a one of the newest JDR Jams each Wednesday from 6:00-6:30p, move by move. This class is FREE and a great way to learn not only how to feel more confident in your movement, but also get a better workout.

Also, give a warm welcome to our newest official instructors, Danica and Kailey. They have put in over 100 hours of training with Just Dance, AFAA and Zumba Fitness and are ready to rock the stage!

Meet Christina Lauria! This Roanoke native has been a dancer her whole life and has a passion to share her love of dance with others. She’s turned her passion into a career and begins her new adventure in Los Angeles this week. We absolutely love the time Christina spends with us at JDR when she’s in town – her bubbly personality and contagious smile can light up any room. This girl is destined for great things. Go show LA what you’ve got, Christina! We can’t wait to hear all about your journey!

So, you’ve been taking classes here since December of 2012. What brought you to your first class?

I passed JDR on my way to dance class everyday and was always intrigued by the bright colors and the disco ball. Two of the biggest components in my life are fitness and dancing so when I researched what JDR was, I knew I had to try it out for myself. Obviously, I fell in love.

What are your favorite songs to twerk-out to when you’re dancing with us?

Back to Twerk Challenge: Tuesday, September 6th- Sunday, October 9th

Summer is over and school is back in session! This time of year can be challenging with routine changes, kids, students and teachers returning to school and all the fall activities kicking into action.

Looking for something to hold you accountable? BACK TO TWERK CHALLENGE!

For 30 (ish) Days, we challenge you to get to the studio as many days as possible. It’s not about the volume of classes that you take, it’s more about the work (and twerk) that you’re putting into those classes! We’ve got some great prizes to incentivize you to get back to the studio and into your fall fitness routine!

Meet 2016 Instructor Trainee, Jeniffer Iglesias! This mom of 3 has been a member of Just Dance Roanoke since May of 2015 and is so excited to share her love of dance with all of you! While Latin genres and hip-hop are her favorites, she doesn’t discriminate and rocks every song that comes on in class. When you see her around the studio, be sure to welcome her to our team!

Who or what inspired you to become an instructor?

Dancing brings me so much joy, and I loved the idea of being able to help others feel the same way. I have always admired the instructors here at JDR. They are so positive and encouraging and I felt that joining them was the next step for me.

Meet Chris! A 500 class club member, lover of Just Burn (and Just Sweat) classes, and JDR Instructor Kelly’s cousin, Chris has been a loyal Just Dance Roanoke member since the summer of 2014. He’s proof that, yes, men enjoy JDR classes too! You can always find Chris socializing in the lobby before and after class with the many friends he’s met at JDR.

Who or what brought you to your first class at JDR?

My wonderful cousin Kelly McDow a.k.a. Pepper. She had been asking me for a year to come try a Just Burn class.

What is your favorite JDR event you’ve attended?

JDR’s 3rd Birthday Party and Party in Pink.

Favorite piece of JDR swag you own?

The first JDR thing I ever had – a white Just Dance Roanoke tank.

Favorite song/genre to dance to in class?

I lean towards hip-hop but anything with a good beat that I can get into: rap, electronic, retro-rock, Michael Jackson…

Anything else you’d like the JDR family to know about you?

Going to the studio for a Burn class, I had no idea what Zumba was and I couldn’t dance. I started in the back row with a two step and now I’ve moved to the front row. I’ve gained a lot of confidence dancing at JDR. The awesome instructors and participants are like family and constantly encourage and support one another.

INTERVIEWED BY MORGAN JESSEE, JUST DANCE ROANOKE MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTOR

Meet Kailey Owens! The youngest member of the 2016 Instructor Trainee class(and youngest ever to be a part of the JDR Team)and a student at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. We are so excited Kailey decided to stay in town for school so she can continue to dance with us! She began taking classes in December of 2015 and it was love at first dance. Don’t let her age fool you – this girl can twerk-it with the best of ‘em! If you see her around the studio, help us welcome her to our team!

Who or what inspired you to become an instructor?

I wanted to find a way to stay active so when I heard about Just Dance, I decided to come try a class to see how I liked it and I ended up loving it! Since then, taking classes with all of the amazing instructors has inspired me to become more than just a participant. Kelly, may or may not, have twisted my arm into auditioning.

What is your “real” job?

I currently work at Green Ridge Recreation Center with kids as an after school care aide and summer camp aide.

Do you have any formal dance training?

Yes, I danced at Floyd Ward School of Dance for nine years. I took classes in jazz, ballet, lyrical, clogging, and modern.

What style of dance do you love most?

I like hip hop because of the beat… and, well, you can twerk. <<wink>>

What are your favorite songs to twerk to in class?

My favorite is Trini Dem Girls, but I also love Turn it up and Let Me Be Your Lover.

What other talents/hobbies do you have?

I love anything where I can be outside, so let me know if you want to go hiking. I also love to paddle board at the lake.

Anything else you would you like the JDR family to know about you?

I’m so excited to continue my love for dance and share it with you and get to know you all better!

INTERVIEWED BY MORGAN JESSEE, JUST DANCE ROANOKE MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTOR

Baby, it’s HOT Outside!

Aside from the heat, summertime brings with it a lot of awesome things—longer days, family vacations, relaxing by the pool, grilling out with friends & of course, watermelon (YUM!) the list goes on. But, with all the fun summer activities comes a little added responsibility to play it safe and take good care of yourself. I know one thing I struggle with is drinking enough water during the day. Did you know that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated?! I have recently made a conscious effort to drink more water & I can already tell such a difference! Here are some of the things that have helped me incorporate more water into my day:

Be aware of how much water you are actually drinking.

I can recall days when it would occur to me late in the evening that I had not had any water that day (soooo bad, I know). Coffee, Diet Coke, unsweetend tea, yep, drank all those, but not one ounce of plain ol’ water!

Plan ahead.

I spend the majority of my day in & out of my car, so any bottle of water I carry with me in the morning is 102 degrees by noon. I needed something to keep my water cold because who wants to drink hot water? Ugh. Until…did y’all see all the experiments that people were posting on social media a few weeks ago comparing how cold the the Wal-Mart brand stainless steel tumblers ($9.74) kept your drink compared to the Yeti tumblers ($39.99)? Apparently the $9 Wal-Mart cup was giving the $40 one a run for its money! I had to see for myself. I don’t have a Yeti to compare it to, but I will tell you that Wal-Mart brand stainless steel tumbler keeps ice all day long. Even in my hot car! I leave my house every day with my knock-off Yeti filled with ice & enjoy cold water all day long! (Brandy loves hers too!)

Sara, Antonia, Danica and Lindsey also both love the S’Well brand stainless steel bottles for keeping their drinks cold all day! You can grab these locally at Target, Chocolate Paper, and Provisions (which also sells Yeti’s).